The negotiations on future expenditures on the common agricultural policy and cohesion policy in multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2014-2020 were held at the General Affairs Council on 24 April. Agriculture and cohesion count for more than 70% of the annual budget of the EU.
MFF’s overall ceiling of 1025 billion € (1.05% of the EU’s GNI) has been proposed by the Commission in 2011. However, countries like Germany, France, United Kingdom or Netherlands oppose the proposal of the ceiling higher than 1% and they strongly emphasize the necessity of savings.
In the following weeks, the Danish presidency will present a comprehensive version, including own resources, of the "negotiating box" – the document that sets out all the negotiating issues and options. On 28-29 June 2012 the Council will discuss on the negotiating box. The finalization of the negotiations of the MFF is planned at the end of 2012.

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